"I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people,
which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts; A people
that provoketh me to anger continually to my face; that sacrificeth in gardens,
and burneth incense upon altars of brick; Which remain among the graves, and
lodge in the monuments, which eat swine's flesh, and broth of abominable things
is in their vessels; Which say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am
holier than thou. These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the
day. Behold, it is written before me: I will not keep silence, but will
recompense, even recompense into their bosom, Your iniquities, and the
iniquities of your fathers together, saith the LORD, which have burned incense
upon the mountains, and blasphemed me upon the hills: therefore will I measure
their former work into their bosom."

I know that God predestined all things that
come to pass. There are in this world vessels of mercy and vessels of wrath,
sheep and goats, elect sinners and reprobate sinners. I know that all the
vessels of mercy shall obtain mercy; vessels of wrath never shall. All the
Lord’s sheep shall be saved; goats will never be saved. All the elect will
enter glory; the reprobate never shall. However, none of the elect will ever be
saved apart from redemption, grace, and faith; and no one will ever be damned
without first filling up the measure of wrath by their own willful
transgressions. In other words, if anyone goes to heaven it will be God’s
fault. If anyone goes to hell it will be his own fault (Pro. 1:22-33).

Reprobation
is a judicial matter. Just as God turned from Israel and sent blindness and
hardness of heart to that nation, so he does today with individuals, churches,
and nations who will not receive the love of the truth. Nothing on this earth
can explain what is going on in the world around us, except this - We are
living in a reprobate age, in a generation under the judgment of God (Rom.
1:25-28; II Thess. 2:10-12).

Here
are five reasons why God took the gospel from the Jews and sent it to the
Gentiles, five reasons why he will yet in this day turn from sinners in his
wrath and seal them up to destruction in reprobation: PERSISTENT REBELLION (v.2). If you insist on doing things your own
way and walking in the way of your own thoughts, God will let you have your
way. IDOLATRY (v. 2). In its
essence, idolatry is looking to yourself for salvation. It is an attempt to
worship God on an altar you have made. You cannot approach God and be accepted
by him upon an altar of bricks that you have made (Ex. 20:24-26). God will not
accept incense from any altar other than his altar, which is Christ the Lord
(Ex. 30:1, 3; Heb. 13:10). Note: The idolatry spoken of
in this verse must have particular reference to the idolatry of this perverse,
religious age in which we now live. Israel was never guilty of idolatry after
their return from the Babylonian captivity. SPIRITISM, MYSTICISM, AND NECROMANCY (v. 4). The so called “new
age” religions are not new at all. Pagans who refuse to bow to God and his
Revelation have always tried to communicate with the dead, sought to find out
about the spirit world, and endeavored to find out their fortunes by communicating
with witches, sorcerers, and astrologers.
LAWLESSNESS (v. 4). The eating of swine’s flesh was strictly forbidden in
the law of God (Lev. 11:7). But rebels have no regard for God’s law. They dare
presume that they are free to worship God any way they wish! I know we are not
under the law in any sense whatsoever; but the text is applicable to us. Anyone
who snubs his nose at God can expect eternal damnation as a result. SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS (v. 5). If you care
for your soul, beware of ignoring, rebelling against, despising, and snubbing
your nose at God almighty. He will not trifle with you! He will recompense your
iniquity to you. He will pay you your wages. “The wages of sin is death.” And God will pay it in exactly the
proportion that you deserve. Read verses six and seven.